Are These New Rules (Yes, as in The Rules) Still Outdated? Yikes, I Confess To Following Some Of Them!

Remember when being a Rules Girl was kind of a thing? I wasn't one, because I was like 14 when that book first got popular so my rules were pretty much: "Try not to bleed on your jeans at school" and "Boys do seem more interested now that my braces are off." Anyway, there's a new version coming soon for ladies who missed out on the craze back in the 90s.

Despite my objections though, some of the concepts of The Rules may have seeped into my subconscious. As I read the new suggestions of rules for the modern woman, especially as pertains to online dating, I realized my own practices aren't that far off. I'm fairly ashamed at that realization, but in the interest of disclosing all my secrets to you girls, here's a comparison of Fein and Schneider's rules, and my applications in my dating life:

Rule:"Post a light and breezy ad talking about interests, hobbies, favorite foods, books, movies, etc. Don't mention anything about dreams and regrets and include a couple of sexy photos."My application: I pretty much follow this one, although I doubt any of my photos qualify as "sexy" in their books. But I kind of think this is just common sense for men or women. No one wants to read the deepest thoughts and serious regrets of a random stranger on the internet. Let's have a drink first, buddy.

Rule:"If a guy doesn't ask you out within 4 emails, next!"

My application: I totally follow this one, because too many emails are boring. Except for this one cute guy who has been emailing me for like, 20 days now without asking me out and I keep stupidly responding. You guys, he's so cute. (Yes, I know I could just ask him out myself, but please see the next rule/application.)

Rule:"A woman cannot email, or even wink at a guy's profile, without becoming the aggressor and possibly getting hurt down the line when the guy dumps her for the woman whose profile he really likes. The only way to be sure that a guy is interested is to let him make the first move."

__My application:__This is the one I'm most horrified to admit I really do practice. But only because I'm a baby. I would never actually tell you girls that you shouldn't email a guy you're interested in. But I do personally balk at doing it for fear of rejection.

Rule:"It's fine for him to see that she has viewed his profile, as long as she doesn't mention she has read it! (Do not refer to it by saying something like, "oh, you said you like the Knicks, so do I"!)"

My application: WHAT? I think this is straight up crazy. It's one thing not to approach a guy (if you're a baby like me); it's another to not even bother to read his profile after he's contacted you. I would never respond to a guy who didn't indicate he'd read my profile, and I always try to reciprocate that sentiment. That's just manners.

Rule:* " Wait as long as you can' before having sex."*

My application: Yes, that is exactly what I always do, if you are my mother or father and you're reading this. Er. Yeah.

In summary, out of five rules, that's three that I mostly follow, one that I don't follow at all, and one that I just totally lied about following. I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to whether any of this is relevant to the fact that I'm still single.

__Are you interested in this new book from the authors of The Rules? Do any of these seem relevant to you, or are they completely outdated and kind of sexist? And really, why AM I still single? __